Wednesday, May 13, 2026

The Schoolmarm and the Miner Tour & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: The Schoolmarm and the Miner

Author: Denise Farnsworth writing as Denise Weimer

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: May 5, 2026

A teacher seeking independence. A widower guarding his heart. In Georgia’s gold country, the richest prize may be the love they’re afraid to claim.

Adelaide Duncan’s dream of teaching is within reach until her father’s drinking and gambling force her to start over. Taking a position in the rough-and-tumble gold rush town of Dahlonega[DF1] , she’s determined to prove herself. But unruly students, strict rules against [DF2] teachers courting, and her growing feelings for a certain widowed father threaten the independence she’s fought so hard to claim.

Wade Coulter walked away from the law after he lost his wife and unborn son. Raising his daughter alone is safer than letting anyone else in. But Lotty’s beautiful new teacher makes him question everything. Just as he begins to trust again, a dangerous man from Wade’s past threatens both the women he loves.

A gold strike on Wade’s property promises security…but also revives old dangers. Scarred by her father’s choices, Addie fears any man who might put [DF3] selfish desires before love. As deadly threats close in and the past refuses to stay buried, Wade must prove he’s changed or risk losing his chance at happiness forever.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

North Georgia native Denise Farnsworth, formerly Denise Weimer, has authored over twenty traditionally published novels and novellas—historical and contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and time slip. As a freelance editor and Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books, she’s helped other authors reach their publishing dreams. A wife and mother of two adult daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.

More from Denise

At the end of book one of my Twenty-Niners of the Georgia Gold Rush series, The Songbird and the Surveyor, the bad guy walked free! Saloon and mine owner Charles Martin’s manipulative plotting and family money spared him from facing justice. Well, we can’t have that…

Wade Coulter, the sheriff whose sister died in a confrontation with Charles, turned in his badge after the man avoided standing trial for kidnapping the wife of Jesse Holden (the hero of book one) and his theft of a local mine owner’s gold. Jesse and Genny left North Georgia for a fresh start, but Wade gets stuck with the burden of failure and—following the deaths of his wife and unborn son—heartache. He’s retreated to his mountain farm with his plucky overall-wearing daughter, Charlotte, determined to keep her safe from the criminals who frequent gold rush boomtowns like the county seat of Dahlonega.

But then a new teacher arrives…one who is also fleeing heartache in hopes of a fresh start. Forced by the mistakes of her drunken father to seek employment in the gold fields rather than at the prestigious girls’ academy from which she just graduated, Adelaide Duncan has no other choice than to make her way in Dahlonega. If that means doing battle with thieves on the square, a pompous school board president, and bullies as big as she is, fine.

The one battle she doesn’t count on is keeping her heart safe from a moody widower who needs convincing by Addie and his aunt, the owner of the boardinghouse where Addie lodges, that his mannerless daughter desperately needs to attend school. It soon enough becomes clear that, despite her guardedness, Lottie longs for a mother’s love. Just when the discovery of gold on Wade’s land allows him to picture a family in his future, an old nemesis shows up with a new scheme…one that once again endangers the women Wade loves.

The Schoolmarm and the Miner packs humor, romance, action, and all your favorite tropes into a real-life town setting so charming, it’s a Hallmark movie-filming destination. After you read the story, you’ll want to plan a road trip to tour the gold museum in the historic courthouse and the drippy tunnels of the Consolidated Gold Mine, one of many that operated in Lumpkin County from the 1830s through the early 1900s. As you wander the North Georgia mountains, you’ll see why I’ve long felt there’s still plenty of treasure there. And fodder for great stories!

MY REVIEW

I don’t think I say it enough, but I love reading stories set in the 1800s. This time period fascinates me. The people worked hard, protected family and faith was a huge part of their lives. I love how the author describes the area with breathtaking views and lush countryside. The gold rush was in full swing as many hoped to strike it rich.

Addie is a thoughtful and smart young woman. I admire her determination to become a teacher. Traveling a long way from home she takes a chance of being hired. I can imagine the shock she endured seeing the town with chaos at night and not so welcoming townspeople. Has she made the right choice to come here?

Wade works hard raising his daughter alone while tending his land. He sure has his hands full with his feisty daughter Lotty. He has closed his heart to love after the loss of his wife, unborn child and sister. Wade has no time for romance where his heart can be broken again. When he meets the new teacher, will he change his mind about a relationship?

Lotty for me steals the spotlight with her antics. Being made to attend school during the week keeps her away from her father. She is not happy with Addie being her teacher. I like how Addie finds ways to reach Lotty in a gentle way. Lotty does seem to open a little bit but I think she is worried about having to share her father’s heart with someone else.

The faith element in the book fits well as we witness Addie sharing how God, “can redeem even the pain of death. He uses our sorrow to help us comfort others.” Wade has been bitter for a long time after his losses. As he begins to open up to Addie he tells her that he blames himself for his sister’s death. He doesn’t want Addie to preach to him about forgives with his mind so bent on revenge.

This has been a wonderful journey with characters who learn to forgive and open their hearts to a new beginning. Trials bring strength and hope as Addie and Wade grow closer. I appreciate how the author used characters to show how God can help them overcome their past and learn to trust again.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Fiction Book Lover, May 12 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 12

Texas Book-aholic, May 13

For Him and My Family, May 14

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 15

Lakesidelivingsite , May 15

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 16

Devoted To Hope, May 17

Jeanette’s Thoughts, May 18

Books You Can Feel Good About, May 19

Connie’s History Classroom, May 20

Simple Harvest Reads, May 21 (Guest Review from Donna)

Holly’s Book Corner, May 22

Cover Lover Book Review, May 23

Pause for Tales, May 24

Lyssa Loves Books, May 25

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Denise is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/DSQoC/the-schoolmarm-and-the-miner-celebration-tour-giveaway

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

MISS BETH BETTENCOURT BY EVA MARIE EVERSON

Will an unlikely romance tear down Beth’s walls of indifference?

It's 1962 in Bynum, Georgia, and Beth Bettencourt's world is turned upside down when she wakes to a man snoring in the guest bedroom.

She's home alone; her parents are traveling abroad, grieving her twin sister's unexpected death. Instead of accompanying them, Beth stayed in Bynum to tend to her kindergarten and closely guard her own heart.

A beautiful and beloved member of the community, Beth is an unusual specimen for her time as she nears thirty and remains unmarried. She holds deep-seated unforgiveness toward her twin, Elise, who ran off with Beth's beau. To make matters worse, Elise took their grandmother's ring, which had been promised to Beth.

But now a stranger enters her home and her world. David Patrick Martin seems ready to break down her walls of indifference and find the core of Miss Beth Bettencourt. But can he be trusted with Beth's past, her present, and more importantly, her future?

MY REVIEW

Have you ever wanted to go back in time to a particular place and experience exactly what a character in a book is feeling? I have had the pleasure of doing just that in this emotional journey written by an exceptional author. The time period comes alive with details that place readers in the center of the story. I love how the author brings memories of this time period to life with mentions of green stamps. My mom was a fanatic about making sure she received the right amount from cashiers. She would go home each time and spend hours looking through the catalog. I often wondered what she would decide to use her stamps on. The trip to the library was the most precious memory for me. I got my love for reading from my mom. She would take me to the library every week to get new books. I would check out the limit feeling like I had won a contest. I couldn’t get to my room fast enough to start reading. A few days later I was begging my mom to take me back for more books.

Betrayal is a hard pill to swallow as Beth knows so well. Her twin sister destroyed what little trust Beth had with a knee jerk decision that screams of the ultimate back stabbing from a sister. I longed to talk to Beth and tell her that her bitterness will never go away until she allows God to help her. The flow of the story is seamless and I was able to join Miss Beth on her path to heal a broken heart and find herself again.

As we get to know Beth we see a gentle, kind and graceful person. Her love for children shows as she teaches kindergarten. It was easy to picture Beth sharing stories, teaching each child lessons and illustrating how much joy she feels being a part of their lives. What some people don’t know is the deep pain she feels after a devastating relationship puts walls around her heart.

Marty is a breath of fresh air to the story as he happens to run into Beth in an unusual way. It’s not everyday that you find a strange man sleeping in your house, but Beth handles it with grace and charm. What was suppose to be a reunion with a friend that Marty knew while serving his country turns into more than he bargained for. I could just imagine his shock learning he is in the wrong house. However I say wrong house maybe but God brought him to Beth first a reason. I loved getting to know Marty better and see that he is a gentleman who will protect those he cares for. His past has nit been easy but it has made him realize the right way to treat a woman.

There were moments in the story I could feel tears in my eyes as Beth gets closer to allowing herself to be set free from a root of bitterness. She has always felt not good enough, second choice and always in competition with her twin sister. The betrayal of her sister was so hard she didn’t want to live at times. She felt humiliated and wanted to hide from the world. Beth was a prisoner of her feelings and deep hurt that was rooted in unforgivenness.

I love how the author made me see how even in the midst of a storm, God will direct your path. We go through trials wondering why. God is always there to wipe our tears, surround us with unconditional love and bring us to a place where freedom is. Marty and Beth’s story will forever stay with me. It gives hope to those who think they aren’t enough. It brings grace to those who have sinned. Most of all it shows us that our past is forgiven.

The road is crooked at times, but the Good Book says that God will straighten those paths out for us. If we let Him.”

I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.

Monday, May 11, 2026

VINNY Tour & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: VINNY

Author: MaryAnn Diorio

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Release Date: April 15, 2026

VINNY by MaryAnn Diorio
Book 1 in The South Philly Italians Romantic Suspense Series

Vinny Morello is on track for a promising career in the fine arts. But when tragedy suddenly hurls him headlong into a life-altering crisis, he faces a frightening fork in the road. Which one will he take? The road that leads to life or the road that leads to death?

VINNY is an edge-of-your-seat, romantic suspense story where tragedy and triumph merge into transformation. Don’t miss it!

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

MaryAnn Diorio writes award-winning fiction from a quaint small town in New Jersey where neighbors still chat while walking their dogs, families and friends gather on wide, wrap-around porches, and the charming downtown finds kids licking lollipops and old married folks holding hands. A Jersey girl at heart, MaryAnn is a huge fan of Jersey diners, Jersey tomatoes, and the Jersey shore.

More from MaryAnn

All Things Italian

by MaryAnn Dorio

I grew up in a home where Italian was my mother tongue. My late mother, one of the first war brides of World War II, was an immigrant from the romantic city of Naples, Italy. When I was born, she knew no English. So, we communicated in Italian. Although my mother eventually learned English, she and I always spoke in Italian until she passed away.

When I went off to college, I majored in French and minored in Italian. After I graduated, I spent a year of study at the University of Florence in Italy, earning my Master’s degree in Italian Language and Literature. Afterward, I taught Italian at the university level here in the States.

From my earliest days, Italy was a big part of my culture and of my heart. And it still is. It is no wonder then that I gravitate to writing fiction with an Italian flair. This is the milieu I know and understand best. It is the milieu I love. And I want to share it with you through my stories.

But, my fiction is far more than Italian. It is universal. In other words, it deals with issues that pertain to all of us humans. Issues of pride, rebellion, lust, and greed. Issues of deception, betrayal, hatred, and fear. Issues that result from our failure to love.

When you read my stories, you will travel to the deepest places of the human heart. Places you might not want to go to because they are places of pain, of confrontation, of facing our past and our sin. But they are also places of truth where you will find the freedom from the past and from sin that only truth brings. For my stories not only explore the deepest issues of the human heart; they show you how to overcome them through Jesus Christ.

Won’t you join me on this entertaining journey of exploration and transformation? If you do, I have a feeling that at the end of my stories, you will discover that you have become a far better person than you were at the beginning.

MY REVIEW

Sometimes stories are hard to read because of the sensitive topics. In this book there are triggers that readers need to be aware of. The author illustrates how making poor choices can cause us to steer away from God. I appreciate how we are introduced to an Italian family who are very devoted to each other. They work together, share meals and are involved in the community.

As we get to know Vinny more we see that his brother is more unsure of himself each passing day. Louie has always been one to be impulsive and carries this burden of not being able to see himself successful at things. That to me was a huge red flag. These doubts Louie carries is picked up by Vinny. They are very close yet Louie is always looking for a way to make extra money. Can Vinny help his brother before it is too late?

The tragedy that occurs rocks the entire community. I can’t imagine getting a knock on your door and seeing police officers standing there. This one decision made by Louie will change many lives. The community surrounds the family during their darkest moment.

Vinny has always been expected to run the family deli but he has a dream of becoming an artist. The family is not happy but try to support him in his choice of careers. Will everything change now that his brother is gone? I enjoyed seeing how this family lifts each other up during a difficult time. Now Vinny must decide what his future should be when the family’s future is forever changed.

Rosalie is a sweet young woman who meets Vinny at the art gallery she works at. She is a hard worker and is excited to help Vinny show his art at an upcoming show at the gallery. Their friendship blossoms but Rosalie isn’t sure where Vinny stands when it comes to God. Does he have a personal relationship with Him? The author does a good job of illustrating what God means about being unequally yoked.

There is a bit of danger in the story that gives readers a look at how greed can cause people to make bad choices. The enemy loves to try to take us off our path that God has directed us to. For me the best part of the entire story is watching God work in Vinny. He struggles with believing He exists and knows that he needs to make changes in his life. There are moments where Vinny wrestles with giving himself to God. These are pivotal God moments that we can sometimes miss. A beautiful story of redemption, forgives and finding God.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 9

Simple Harvest Reads, May 10 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, May 11

Artistic Nobody, May 12 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, May 13

Guild Master, May 14 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, May 15

History, Hope & Happily Ever After, May 16 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 16

Pause for Tales, May 17

Fiction Book Lover, May 18 (Author Interview)

Cover Lover Book Review, May 19

Books, Books, & More Books, May 20 (Author Interview)

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 21 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 21

Books Less Travelled, May 22 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour MaryAnn is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a print copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/loxwx/vinny-celebration-tour-giveaway

Sunday, May 10, 2026

Mr. Cutler’s Wonderful Creations Tour & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Mr. Cutler’s Wonderful Creations: A Children’s Book About Finding Your God-given Identity.

Author: Aaron P. Gordon

Genre: Christian Children’s Book

Release Date: November, 2025

After being presented as a special birthday present to Alina, Fork, Knife, and Spoon embark on a journey to find purpose. Disappointed with what they thought happiness was, everything changes when they have a conversation with the man who created them.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

A native of Washington, D.C., Aaron P. Gordoncurrently resides in Harrisonburg, Virginia with his wife of 28 years, Valerie. Before entering the corporate world, Aaron served as a Captain in the U.S. Army. Aaron has a diverse and extensive leadership background with experience in the multiple industries. He is also a certified executive coach for John Maxwell and holds a B.S. in Operations Management from the United States Military Academy. With four children and six grandchildren, the passion of his life is to help people maximize their relationship with God through humor, Biblical principles, and everyday examples.

MY REVIEW

What a cute way to illustrate to children that we each have special gifts. It can sometimes be hard to watch others shine as God uses them . We sometimes feel like we don’t have any talents and become unsure that we are valuable.

I like the way the author used simple ways to show how we are all unique. God designed each of us with a special gift. The important thing to remember is we don’t need to feel sad when someone else is sharing their gift when we are not. God made us to work together and when it is the right time we will shine in our special gift as well. Each of our gifts are unique but God designed us to work together.

This is a nice way to show younger children that we each are loved by God. We each have a special gift that will work with others. I like how the author shows that we should not be sad or jealous of others but encourage each other.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.